Harry Greb vs Jess Willard

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by SuzieQ49, Oct 17, 2011.


  1. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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  2. gregluland

    gregluland Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Here's your subject Klompton..........................
     
  3. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    I think Greb is too short to beat Willard.
    Willard was actually pretty good.
     
  4. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    I believe there is a point in physical contact sports where quantity supercedes quality,and this is probably it.
    Willard by mauling dec.
     
  5. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    Uncharted territory for Greb but he may well do it. McMahon who was 175lbs beat prime Willard, 180lb Gunboat Smith beat him pre prime, 190lb Rodel beat him. In 1919 my money is on Greb over the 10-12round distance, longer distances obviously suit Willard
     
  6. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    A pointless battle waged outside of the weight classes. Greb too small for Willard.
     
  7. bodhi

    bodhi Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think Greb can outmaneuver and outwork Willard for most of the fight. If it´s over 10 I´d pick Greb, everything else I think Willard´s size, stamina, strength and power is just too much.
     
  8. klompton

    klompton Boxing Addict banned

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    It would have been interesting. Willard might have been the easiest of the giants (Fulton, Wills) for Greb to beat. He didnt have an overly physical style, was pretty slow, and didnt have a high work rate. If Greb could deal with enormous size differences he might outwork Willard.

    Willard himself had an incredible amount of respect for Greb. As early as 1917 he was touting Greb as a future champion. In Toledo in 1919 he tried to hire Greb as a sparring partner but Greb wanted to challenge the winner of Willard-Dempsey (and was making more money fighting than as a sparring partner) so he declined. In 1923 Willard picked Greb as the man with the best chance to beat Dempsey. He loved Greb's style and said that a lot of the criticism he got in New York was unjust.
     
  9. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Does this mean a fight between the two in their primes? Or a very old Willard against a prime Greb as it would have been in reality? I'd probably take Greb to get the better of an aging Willard in a 10 round bout. Any further and the size difference becomes an overwhelming factor.
     
  10. gregluland

    gregluland Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I will say this, hope it upsets noboby. Greb could never ever hurt Willard, a fighter with less than a 20% KO record is simply going to be an egg hitting an anvil..... Dempsey had the power to hurt big Jess. I think Greb gets seriousl damage to his health on this one.... he tries to fight on the inside and Willards uppercuts decapitate Harry....... Let's match Harry against MW's..... what's next...... Benny Lynch Vs Mickey Walker ?????
     
  11. gregluland

    gregluland Boxing Addict Full Member

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    What do the New Yorker people say about Greb. ??...... was that kind of enemy territory for Harry was it ??...... the US cities seem to have a very big rivalry... I'd be interested to hear anomalies like this.
     
  12. Surf-Bat

    Surf-Bat Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Considering Harry pasted heavyweights on many occasions I don't think it's absurd to suggest that he would give Willard all he could (or couldn't) handle. Big Bill Brennan didn't have much success landing decapitating uppercuts against Greb in all of their bouts(in fact he won nary a round). So why would Willard? Was Brennan leagues below Willard in skill and power?
     
  13. gregluland

    gregluland Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Hey are you from the same place as the Jacksonville Axemen ??..... a Rugby League team.
     
  14. Jorodz

    Jorodz watching Gatti Ward 1... Full Member

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    this is one of the clearest examples for me of the length of the fight determining the winner
     
  15. gregluland

    gregluland Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Like I said, I hope I don't upset anybody,.... in a match like this I think power is a must for the small guy...... This fight is like Ricardo Lopez vs Thomas Hearns.